Playing card receptacle and tray



Nov. 22, 1960 A. H. ABLETT PLAYING CARD RECEPTACLE AND TRAY 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 13, 1958 INVENTOR. ALLAN H. ABLETT BY JMATTORNEY Nov. 22, 1-960 A. H. ABLETT 2,961,240

PLAYING CARD RECEPTACLE AND TRAY Filed Nov. 13, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. ALLAN H. ABLETT ATTORNEY Nov. 22, 1960 A. H. ABLETT 2,961,240

PLAYING CARD RECEPTACLE AND TRAY Filed Nov. 13, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 8w 5 A I, 3 K E #l 4 J G m m Z I. 7 M 1 F m VA 0H H m G I N u 3 "W w M 6l 7-2-1 7 Mm 7 in v y a B A 6 4 II E n a m H- 7 Q 1 3 r rl..| 1 a 2 l4 uq .3 5 .0. 5 Q 9 z 4 4 i 1 2 5 4x 3 J,- E \4 4 My 3 lu HP. [2 ll\ FIG 9Q 46w-L United States Patent PLAYING CARD RECEPIACLE AND TRAY Allan H.Ablett, 129 NE. 80th Terrace, Miami, Fla.

Filed Nov. 13, 1958, Ser. No. 773,751

Claims. (Cl. 273-148) This invention relates to receptacles and is moreparticularly directed to a playing card receptacle which may e convertedto a tray for playing of card games.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a playing cardreceptacle which normally houses playing cards, and which is readilyconverted into a card holding tray normally used in the card games suchas canasta, samba and the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a substantiallyrectangular shaped receptacle for storing playing cards with a coverwhich lifts upwardly away from the receptacle and then swings around tothe bottom of the receptacle to form the pedestal for the receptacle.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a unique andcompletely encased receptacle for playing cards which unfolds into cardholding tray used for playing card games.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide acombination playing card receptacle and pla ing tray which is simple andinexpensive in construction and may be readily converted from one use tothe other.

With these and other objects in view, the invention will be bestunderstood from a consideration of the following detailed descriptiontaken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, with the understanding, however, that the inventionis not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of thedrawings but may be changed or modified so long as such changes ormodifications mark no material departure from the salient features ofthe invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a combination playing card receptacleand tray constructed according to my invention and shown in its cardstoring position.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1with the cover in dotted lines indicating its lifted positionpreparatory to converting the device to a playing card tray.

Figure 4 is a side elevational View with the cover shown in its liftedposition in solid lines and the dotted lines indicating the swinging ofthe cover in the sequence of steps in the converting of the device intoa tray for playing cards.

Figure 5 is a similar view continuing the sequence of steps inconverting the device from a playing card receptacle to a tray with thecard holding trays swung downwardly and shown by dotted lines.

Figure 6 is a similar view with the cover now positioned below the traysand acting as a pedestal and the device ready to be used as a playingcard tray.

Figure 7 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional View taken along the line 8-8 ofFigure 3.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary top plan view partially broken away,

Figure 10 is a front eleavtional view of the device when used as a tray.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals are used to designatesimilar parts throughout the several views, the numeral 10 refers to mycombination playing card receptacle and tray comprised essentially of asupport member in the form of a wall 11 upon which a cover 12 isslidably mounted and a card holding tray pivotally secured on each sideof the wall 11.

The wall 11 as well as the other parts to my device is made preferablyof plastic although any other suitable materials may be used. The wall11 is provided with a centrally disposed bore 13 extending through thetop edge of the wall 11 and terminating a short distance from the loweredge. See Figures 2 and 3. At the top edge of the wall 11 about the bore13 is a notched portion 14. Within the top portion of the bore 13 is abushing 15 secured therein by a pin 16 extending in a bore 17transversely to the bore 13. The outer end portion of the bore 17 isthreaded to receive the threads of the pin 16 so that its forward endmay be made to engage securely the side wall of the bushing 15 therebysecuring the bushing 15, and preventing any movement of same in the bore13.

On the opposite side of the bushing 15 there is a further bore 18extending from the edge of the wall 11 to the bore 13 and communicatingwith a bore 22 in the bushing 15. The outer end of the bore 18 isthreaded to receive a threaded plug 19 which acts as a stop for one endof a coil spring 20 positioned in the bore 18. The other end of the coilspring 21 bears on a slidable pin 21 having a pointed end portion ordetent 23 which is received by the bore 22 in the bushing 15. The amountof pressure imparted to the pin 21 by the coil spring 20 may be adjustedaccording to the position of the threaded plug 19 in the bore 18.

Within the bore 13 there is slidably mounted a cover supporting rod 26at whose lower end a collar 25 is secured to prevent the removal of therod 26 from the bore 13. The rod 26 is provided with peripheral recesses27 and 28 adjacent the lower and upper portion thereof, the recesses 27and 28 intended to be engaged by the detent 23 for maintaining the rod26 and the cover 12 which is secured to the top end of the rod 26 at adepressed or elevated position. When the rod 26 is in its depressedposition. the cover 12 is housed and when elevated, the cover 12 is inposition to be swung as is explained in detail hereinafter. Mounted onthe rod 26 in contact relation with the lower surface of the cover 12 isa cap shaped locking member 29 secured thereon by a split lock ring 30.All four edges of the cover 12 are notched as at 31. The bottom portionof the wall 11 is provided with slots 32 and 33 extending inwardly ofthe bottom edge and are equidistant from a bore 34 which is in verticalalignment with but transverse to the bore 13. Extending through the bore34 and bores 37 in stub plates 38 (see Figure 2) is a pivot pin 39consisting of a conventional interengaging threaded bolt and sleevethereby permitting the wall 11 to swing about the stub plates 38 withthe pivot pin 39 as the center of rotation. The stub plates 38 aresecured in space relation with each other by a pin 46 on which a sleeve41 is mounted, the sleeve 41 being of the same dimension as thethickness of the wall 11 and extending between the stub plates 38. Thepin 40 is in horizontal alignment with the pivot pin 39 so that uponswinging the support member or wall 11 from one extreme position to theother, the slots 32 and 33 will receive the sleeve 41 and limit theswinging movement of the wall 11 in that direction. I

Pivotally mounted to the lower edge of. each ofthe stub plates 38" bypins 45 is a card'ho'lding tray, bothof.

which are identical inv construction consisting of a rear wall 42-, sidewalls 43 and a bottom wall 4'4 inclined walls 38. The upper inner edgesof the side walls 43 project upwardly to form lugs 46 which are receivedby the notched portions 31 in the cover 12 to prevent the card' holdingtrays from pivoting on the pivot pins 45 when the device has beenconverted into its card storing position as shown by Figure l. The frontor exposed edges of the bottom walls 42 have arcuate slots 47 positionedthereon whose function is to receive the rim of the locking cap 29 tolock the card holding trays in position as best shown by Figures 6 and 7when the device It has'been converted to its card playing position.

It can be seen from the above explanation that my combination playingcard receptacle and tray can be used both as a storage receptacle forcards or as a tray for dispensing playing cards during the playing ofcard games, and also that it can be readily converted from one use tothe other. Withthe device 10 in the position as shown by Figures 1 and2, the device 10 becomes a storage receptacle for playing cards. Toconvert the device 10 to a tray for dispensing cards as shown by Figures6 and 10, the cover 12 is grasped at the edges and lifted upwardly tocause the rod 26 to slide upwardly in the bore 13 until the detent 23engages the recess 28 and the collar 25 engages the bushing 15. Thisposition of the cover 12 pulled upwardly away from the device 10 isshown by the solidlines in Figure 4. "Ihen the cover 12 along with thesupport member 11 is swung about the pivot pin 39 in an arc ofapproximately 180 degrees. The cover 12 is now positioned directly belowthe trays and shown in Figure 4 by dotted lines and in Figure by solidlines. The trays which are in an upwardly extending position as shown inFigure 5 are made to swing downwardly on the pins 45 to assume thedotted line positions. Now downward pressure is applied on the device itto force the rod 26 to slide upwardly in the bore 13 of the supportplate 11. The cover 12 slides upwardly until the rim of the locking cap29'is received by the arcuate slots 47 on the edges of the rear wall 42of the trays to lock the card holding trays in position yet permittingthe device to be free torevolve about the rodZ. To return the device 10to its card storing position, the reverse procedure described above isfollowed. 12 has been swung to its upper position and then sliddownwardly toward the trays, the lugs 46 are received by the notchportions 31 and the trays are secured against pivotal movement. Thecards that have been placed within the trays are stored therein and thereceptacle 10 is put away until it is decided to play cards again.

7 What I claim as new is:

l. A combination playing card receptacle and dispenser comprising asupport member, a pair of trays for containing playing cards having arear wall portion and a rear wall support member, pivot means securingsaid rear wall support members and said first named support member atsubstantially their mid-portions for swinging movement of said supportmember in a plane substantially parallel to said rear wall supportmembers, hinge means securing each of said rear wall portions with eachof said rear wall support members, a cover member and means mountingsaid cover member on said first named support member whereby said covermember and said first named support member may be pivoted to form it isto be noted that when the cover' a pedestal for said trays" and saidtrays swung on said hinge means in the directioh of said pedestal toform a dispenser for said cards contained in said trays.

2. A combination playing card receptacle and dispenser comprising asupport member, a stub plate memer positioned on each side of saidsupport member, a pivot pin extending through said stub plate membersand said support member at substantially their mid-portions for swingingmovement of said support member, a pair of trays for containingv cardshaving a rear wall, hinge means securing said rear wall of each of saidtrays to said stub plate members whereby said trays may swing in an arctransversely to said support member, a cover, means slidably securingsaid cover to a top edge of said support member whereby at one positionof said trays said cover engages said trays to form a container for saidcards and upon the swinging of said trays and pivotal movement of saidsupport member said cover becomes.

a pedestal for said playing card dispenser.

3. A combination playing card receptacle and dispenser comprising asupport member and a stub plate member positioned on each side of saidsupport member, a pivot pin extending through said support member andsaid stub plate members at substantially their mid-portion whereby saidsupport member may swing through an arc in a plane parallel to said stubplate members, a pair of trays having side walls, a bottom wall and arear wall, hinge means securing said rear wall of each of said trays tosaid stub plate members whereby said trays may swing in an arctransversely to said support member, said support member having asubstantially centrally disposed bore extending through a top edge ofsaid support member, a rod slidably mounted in said bore, a cover membersecured to a free end of said rod whereby said cover member may bewithdrawn in a direction away from said support member, a fixed pinextending between said stub plate members, a sleeve mounted on saidfixed pin and extending between said stub plate members a distancesubstantially equal to the thickness of saidsupport member, a slot onsaid support member on each side of said pivot pin for receiving saidflexed pin and limiting the swinging movement of said support member andsaid cover.

4. A combination playing card receptacle and dispenser comprising asupport member, a stub plate member positioned on each side of saidsupport member with all of their top edges lying substantially in ahorizontal plane, a pivot pin extending through said' stub plate membersand said support member at substantially their mid portion whereby saidsupport member may swing through an arc in a plane parallel to said stubplate members, a fixed pin extending between said stub plate members insubstantial horizontal alignment with said pivot pin, a sleeve mountedon said fixed pin and extending between said stub plates a distancesubstantially equal to the thickness of said support member. a pair ofslots on said support member extending to said' top edge, said slotsbeing equidistant from said pivot pin and receiving said fixed pin forlimiting the swinging movement of said support member to substantally anarc of degrees, a pair of trays for containing playing cards having sidewalls, a bottom wall and a rear wall, hinge means securing a top edge ofsaid rear wall to each of said stub plate members whereby said trays mayswing in an arc transversely to said support member, said support memberhaving a substantially centrally disposed bore extending through saidtop edge, a bushing mounted in said bore adjacent said top edge, a rodslidably mounted in said bore along said bushing, a cover secured to afree end of said rod, shoulder means secured to the other end of saidrod for preventing said rod from leaving said bore, and a plurality oflugs extending outwardly of said side walls of said trays adjacent'saidsupport mem- A ve her, said cover having a centrally disposed notch oneach edge for receiving said lugs and locking said trays againstswinging on said hinge means.

5. The structure as recited by claim 4 and locking means mounted on saidrod adjacent said cover and slotted portions formed on the free edges ofsaid rear Walls of said trays adapted to be received by said lockingmeans for securing said trays against pivotal movement on said hingemeans when said trays are in a dispensing position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

